Cattle Rustlers Invade Community, Kill Six, Steal 700 Cows

Six persons were killed in an attack by suspected cattle rustlers in Kukoki community of Shiroro Local Government of Niger State, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

The local government chairman Mark Jagaba disclosed on Wednesday in Minna that the attack lasted for about four hours.

Women and children injured

Jagaba stated that four Fulani and two Gbagyi were killed, while several women and children were injured.

According to him, members of the community reported that the suspects, numbering about 50 and armed with weapons, stormed the community at about 7am shooting in all directions.

They were said to have carted away 700 cows and an undisclosed number of goats and sheep before fleeing the community.

Area attacked again

Jagaba further stated that the attack came barely three weeks after nine people were killed in a similar incident. The incident happened in the Kurebe and Kwaki Chukuba wards of Shiroro Local Government Area.

But peace had since returned to the area, according to him.

The chairman appealed to security agencies in the state to assist a vigilance group in the area. He believes it would help check cattle rustlers and indiscriminate killings of innocent people.

Police confirms attack

Confirming the attack, the Police Public Relations Officer, Niger State Bala Elkana noted that two suspects have been arrested. He then disclosed that efforts  are ongoing to nab the others.

But Elkana pointed out that the command had yet to confirm the actual number of cows stolen by the attackers.

He then revealed that the police had beefed up security within the community and its environs.